Solo Female Road Trip: Denver

I’ve always wanted to challenge myself with a solo road trip—here’s my 4-day itinerary with safety tips, must-sees, and food recs! 📍 Day 1: Estes Park ✈️ Morning: Landed in Denver → Hertz rental car (📸 Take photos of the car before leaving!). 🛒 Supplies stop: Stocked up on snacks/water. 🏨 Stay: The Stanley Hotel (The Shining inspiration!) – Mountain-view room = worth it. 🌊 Activity: Walked around Lake Estes Trail (easy & scenic). 🍖 Dinner: Hunter’s Chop House – Tender pork chops + killer cheesecake! 🎥 Night: Shining-themed tour ($30, skip if not a fan). ⚠️ RMNP Tip: Timed Entry Passes drop at 7 PM MT the day before! No pass? Arrive before 9 AM or after 2 PM. 📍 Day 2: Rocky Mountain NP 🌄 9 AM: Entered via Bear Meadows (no pass needed early!). 🛣️ Drove Trail Ridge Road to Alpine Visitor Center (highest point!). 📸 Stopped at lookouts—download offline maps! (No service!). 🏞️ 2 PM: Returned for Bear Lake hike (parking available!): Route: Bear Lake → Nymph → Dream → Emerald Lake (2.5 hrs, photo-heavy!). Best spots: Bear Lake (iconic!) + Emerald Lake (turquoise gem!). 🦌 Wildlife: Saw elk herds—keep distance! 🍽️ Dinner: Avoid The Wild Rose (meh food). 🧥 Packing list: Layers, rain jacket, hiking poles, snacks, bear spray (just in case!). 💡 Solo Travel Tips ✅ Book rental cars/hotels early (Hertz + Stanley Hotel = smooth picks). ✅ RMNP pass = competitive—set a reminder for 7 PM drops! ✅ Safety first: Share location with friends, carry pepper spray. 🔥 Why This Trip Rocks ✨ Freedom of solo travel (hike at your pace, stop for photos!). ✨ Stanley Hotel = spooky-fun. ✨ Emerald Lake views = unreal. #SoloTravel #RockyMountains #FemaleTravel #NationalParks #RoadTrip